PLGA-Glucose from PolySciTech used in cancer glucose-targeting nanoparticle development for cancer therapy

Cancer cells are typically considered to act ‘hungry,’ as they consume glucose and oxygen at much faster rates than normal cells. For this, they have over-expressed glucose uptake transporters to absorb more of this energy filled sugar. This provides one method of targeting cancer which is to focus on their over-uptake of glucose as a targeting strategy. Recently, researchers at Seoul National University and Kangwon National University (Korea) utilized PLGA and PLGA-glucose from PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) (PolyVivo AP027 (PLGA-glucose) and AP041 (PLGA)) to create nanoparticles which target to the glucose uptake transporters of cancer cells. This research holds promise for improved cancer treatments by targeted delivery. Read more: Park, Ju-Hwan, Hyun-Jong Cho, and Dae-Duk Kim. "Poly ((D, L) lactic-glycolic) acid–star glucose nanoparticles for glucose transporter and hypoglycemia-mediated tumor targeting." International Journal of Nanomedicine 12 (2017): 7453. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5644567/

“Poly((D,L)lactic-glycolic)acid–star glucose (PLGA-Glc) polymer-based nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated for tumor-targeted delivery of docetaxel (DCT). NPs with an approximate mean diameter of 241 nm, narrow size distribution, negative zeta potential, and spherical shape were prepared. A sustained drug release pattern from the developed NPs was observed for 13 days. Moreover, drug release from PLGA-Glc NPs at acidic pH (endocytic compartments and tumor regions) was significantly improved compared with that observed at physiological pH (normal tissues and organs). DCT-loaded PLGA-Glc NPs (DCT/PLGA-Glc NPs) exhibited an enhanced antiproliferation efficiency rather than DCT-loaded PLGA NPs (DCT/PLGA NPs) in Hep-2 cells, which can be regarded as glucose transporters (GLUTs)-positive cells, at ≥50 ng/mL DCT concentration range. Under glucose-deprived (hypoglycemic) conditions, the cellular uptake efficiency of the PLGA-Glc NPs was higher in Hep-2 cells compared to that observed in PLGA NPs. Cy5.5-loaded NPs were prepared and injected into a Hep-2 tumor-xenografted mouse model for in vivo near-infrared fluorescence imaging. The PLGA-Glc NPs group exhibited higher fluorescence intensity in the tumor region than the PLGA NPs group. These results imply that the PLGA-Glc NPs have active tumor targeting abilities based on interactions with GLUTs and the hypoglycemic conditions in the tumor region. Therefore, the developed PLGA-Glc NPs may represent a promising tumor-targeted delivery system for anticancer drugs. Keywords: PLGA-Glc, nanoparticles, glucose transporter, hypoxia, tumor targeting”